Assistant Deputy General Counsel, School Law

Chicago Public Schools; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Chicago Public Schools is seeking an Assistant Deputy General Counsel for Special Education in Madison, Wisconsin. This full-time position involves advising on school law, managing legal services related to special education, and supervising staff. The ideal candidate holds a Juris Doctorate and has a minimum of seven years of legal experience. Strong advocacy, analytical, and communication skills are essential for success in this role. Join CPS in supporting students and enhancing educational equity.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of legal experience.
• Direct experience counseling clients necessary.
• Litigation or administrative hearing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advise on Board rules, policies and statutes related to school law.
• Track and report on School Law matters.
• Supervise District’s response to subpoenas and court orders.
• Manage and develop direct reports.
• Ensure well-managed legal services related to Special Education.
• Prepare and conduct due process hearings.

Skills

Advocacy skills

Analytical skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Management skills

Team collaboration

Problem-solving ability

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Juris Doctorate

Job description

Job Summary

Assistant Deputy General Counsel, Special Education will join the School Law Unit in the CPS Law office. This full‑time, exempt position will advise the Office for Students with Disabilities and school‑based administrators on special education and general education law matters, and will report to the Deputy General Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Advise the Board of Education and school‑based staff on Board rules, policies and statutes related to school law, including enrollment and transfer, student privacy, student discipline, special education concerns, custody issues, school climate matters, Title IX, and charter school issues.
• Track, organize, and report on School Law matters to the Deputy General Counsel and Department Leadership to recognize trends and proactively effect change.
• Assist clients in responding to and navigating crisis situations and other school culture and climate matters.
• Supervise the District’s response to subpoenas and court orders for student records.
• Supervise, manage, mentor and develop direct reports, including Senior Assistants General Counsels, Assistants General Counsels, and Support Staff.
• Review and edit written work and provide guidance and strategy to School Law Unit attorneys.
• Assist the Deputy General Counsel and Law Department Leadership in ensuring expert and well‑managed legal services related to Special Education.
• Support efforts to train clients to minimize liability for the District.
• Participate in and develop continuous improvement of the group in line with Law Department goals.
• Set a vision, strategy, and tone for responding to counseling calls, crisis matters, Title IX concerns, and special education issues that align with CPS’s 5‑year vision and values around equity, integrity, and quality of instruction.
• Prepare and conduct due process hearings for school restructuring, enrollment fraud, and local school council eligibility.
• Assist the Deputy General Counsel with special projects related to cross‑functional work and new initiatives.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school; licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois.
• Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of legal experience; direct experience counseling clients is necessary; litigation or administrative hearing experience is preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Exceptional advocacy, analytical, oral and written communication skills; experience managing attorneys and support staff; ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment; strong work ethic, integrity, sound judgment, initiative, and strategic thinking; strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects under pressure; demonstrated ownership and problem‑solving ability; capacity to assess issues quickly and provide sound legal advice.